To the editor:

A recent letter (Public Forum, April 24) claims that South Lawrence Trafficway proponents are using scare tactics to convince the uninformed public that if opponents are successful in their lawsuit against the SLT that the newly restored wetlands along Louisiana will be converted to apartments and big box stores.

It also claims the project will bring 8-10 lanes of traffic through the current Baker Wetlands and destroy the entire 573 acres of wetlands. Then the writer claims that KU can and should transfer its 20 acres at the southwest corner of 31st and Haskell Avenue to “Haskell” in order to kill the road. What is evident here is that the writer is desperate to convince somebody, anybody that KDOT and anyone supporting the SLT are evil!

What the opponents apparently fail to understand is that building the SLT south of the river will most likely do more damage than destroying 10 percent of the existing wetlands within the 32nd Street alignment. Building the SLT south will ultimately force local governments to spend local taxes to widen 31st Street, Haskell Avenue and Louisiana Street into four-lane roads, severely limiting access to their cherished wetlands and dramatically increasing noise and road kills on the perimeter of the wetlands. The mitigation package for the 32nd Street alignment will provide for expanded and improved wetlands, a new boardwalk, expanded trails, and tremendous educational opportunities for many generations to come. And yes, rest assured, the monarchs will still visit the existing wetlands after the SLT is completed on 32nd Street.